EMILY’S List, one of the nation’s most influential political action committee, on Tuesday endorsed U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

The endorsement further improves Hirono’s standing among progressives and will likely help her with fundraising against former congressman Ed Case.

Hirono also won the EMILY’s List endorsement in 2006, when she faced then-state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa and others in the Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional District covering rural Oahu and the Neighbor Islands. U.S. Rep. Hanabusa has said she will announce in August whether she will run for Senate.

From EMILY’s List:

Mazie Hirono has spent her career fighting for the people of Hawaii and we are excited to endorse her campaign for the United States Senate,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “Mazie has been a tireless advocate for public schools and quality early childhood education. She has consistently championed the rights of women and families in Hawaii and we need her strong voice in the Senate holding the line against the Republican war on women. The EMILY’s List community was proud to support her in the past, loves her fighting spirit, and looks forward to helping her make history as the Senate’s first Asian-American woman in November.